Time for grateful goodbye to BuffaloFAMbase Blog

It’s been a heck of a run. The evolution and explosion of Buffalo Bills content for fans has been nothing short of amazing these last few years. We now have more content to consume as fans than ever before with podcasts, chat rooms, etc… with many interactive ways to share our love for the Buffalo Bills. We know who we are as a ‘FAMbase’… we are unapologetically unlike any other fan base in professional sports.

So, with a heavy heart and given the literal barrage of content available these days, it is time for us to put our BuffaloFAMbase blog to rest. The Josh Allen era in Buffalo has literally brought international attention to our team and great city. Buffalo is now on the world stage and the attention Allen brought is remarkable. We are blessed.

Soon 26shirts.com will be migrating to a new website and as such we have chosen to close the blog. I cannot thank Del Reid and his great company for sponsoring our blog through good times and some not so good since the birth of BillsMafia.

Here’s what ChatGPT had to say about BillsMafia:

Bills Mafia originated in 2010 after a tweet from Buffalo Bills receiver Stevie Johnson, which led to fans creating the hashtag as a humorous response to the team’s struggles. It has since evolved into a global fan community known for its unique celebrations and charitable contributions. Yahoo Buffalo Bills.

Origin of Bills Mafia

The Initial Tweet

Bills Mafia began in November 2010 when Buffalo Bills receiver Stevie Johnson tweeted about a dropped touchdown pass during a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. His tweet humorously blamed the Almighty for the loss, which quickly gained traction on social media.

Creation of the Hashtag

Following the viral nature of Johnson’s tweet, Bills fans created the hashtag #BillsMafia. This was partly a response to ESPN’s Adam Schefter retweeting Johnson’s post, which fans found amusing. Del Reid, one of the fans, coined the hashtag, and it caught on rapidly, especially after former player Nick Barnett endorsed it.

Evolution of Bills Mafia

From Humor to Community

What started as a joke among fans transformed into a global community. Bills Mafia is now known for its unique celebrations, including tailgating traditions that often involve playful antics like jumping onto tables.

Charitable Contributions

Bills Mafia has also made a name for itself through philanthropy. For example, the community has raised significant funds for various charities, often in increments of $17, symbolizing the 17 years the team spent without playoff appearances (as well as the jersey number of Josh Allen).

Cultural Impact

A Unique Fanbase

Bills Mafia is characterized by its passionate and dedicated fanbase. Despite the team’s ups and downs, the community has fostered a sense of belonging and pride among its members, making it a notable part of NFL culture.

Recognition

The movement has gained recognition beyond sports, showcasing how social media can unite fans and create a lasting impact.

Even artificial intelligence knows us. If ChatGPT made any errors here, please let me know and I’ll fix the “know it all”. LOL.

The blog was a great addition to what grew from the birth of BillsMafia. I can’t thank every contributor and former editors enough for their dedication to making our blog a fun place to catch up on all the happenings for fans of the Buffalo Bills. If you’re reading this and you were a contributor, I cannot thank you enough for what you brought to our community. You know who you are. If I name names I will inevitably forget someone and I don’t want to risk that happening.

The best part of the last 11 years as Editor-in-Chief of the blog has been meeting and interacting with friends on social media. Whether it’s been at Bills games, Sabres games or other events like training camp in Pittsford, I will forever cherish every moment spent with each of you.

It’s the right time for me to also add a personal note about why this is the right time to end the blog. My husband Gary has Parkinson’s Disease. He was diagnosed a couple of years ago. Like the incredible man he is… he has kept going and continues to live his life to the fullest.

However, I have increasingly had to spend more time assisting Gary as his disease progresses. My master’s thesis was about studying caregivers of people with cancer. Much of my private practice focused on working with caregivers.

I’m now at a time when I have to practice what I preached over the years.

As an aside, it’s an odd feeling to be in this situation after nearly 39 years of marriage. This may seem very strange for some people, but being a caregiver is the most rewarding experience I cherish every day. The stress is immense but when you love your spouse the way I do, I consider it a privilege to be able to do so with the knowledge I must be careful with the time I devote to outside interests.

Thus I find myself at a place where I must let go of some of the things I’ve enjoyed doing over the years… like being Editor-in-Chief for the blog. Rest assured I’m in a very good place, but need to focus my attention on my husband. Having been my source of strength for nearly four decades, it’s time for me to return the favor.

May anyone reading this be blessed with a smile anytime you think about the fun we’ve had with the blog.

Thank you.